Health
Care
continued from page 1
hook up human beings with
patients $45 a month. For
healthcare resources, and
this, she offers up to seven
not just healthcare, but well-
no-pay visits in the first
ness care.”
year, four in the second
Just seven months old,
year, and five every follow-
PPCPdx is up and running
ing year. Why those
with 30 health care
numbers?
providers and 80 members.
“It covers most needs for
On the providers list, so far,
most people,” Carr says.
are two medical doctors and
“For most adults, a physical
two family nurse practition-
and four sick visits a year
ers,
along
with
should be sufficient to meet
chiropractors and naturo-
their needs. Even my
pathic
doctors,
patients with diabetes or
acupuncturists and massage
heart problems, I see about
therapists.
once every three months.”
Pastor Andrew Watkins
Carr says most doctors
Carr’s practice is based at
haven’t yet heard about the
the Multnomah Family Care
Clinic in West Portland. The Co-op does co-op; word is just beginning to spread in
have a few providers in most areas of the medical circles. She was keen to sign up as
city, with six on the Eastside. North Port- a provider because she already sees many
land-based family nurse practitioner Shelda patients who have no insurance and pay
Holmes is a provider.
(Holmes’ husband, Sen. Chip Shields, and
her clinic manager, is the state representa-
tive for North and Northeast Portland. He
recently was named Rogue of the Week by
Willamette Week for using his legislative
email to ask questions about Oregon’s
health care proposals that appeared to relate
to both his political and personal work. )
The highest provider fee is $77 a month,
with most falling around $40.
“We’re not here to make money,” says
Butler, who worked for the homeless non- cash for services.
“It made a lot of sense to me to sign up
profit Transition Projects for 12 years
before landing at PPCPdx. “We’re here to with this plan,” she says. “It’s a pretty rea-
sonable model of care.
When I was starting out I
thought a lot about how I
wanted to practice, and this
fits nicely with giving
providers work and giving
patients a good opportunity
for access to health care.”
Former health industry
executive Don McCormick
launched Patient Physicians
Cooperatives in Houston,
Texas, 8 years ago. After
working with physicians
groups for 40 years, he
agreed to help a clinic reor-
Morgan Butler and Tony McCormick
ganize, and came up with
the idea of a co-op. The
tor,” he says.
Houston co-op now offers services from 49
Size matters, however, when it comes to
diverse doctors. And in Hickory, N.C., the what the co-ops can offer. The Houston co-
Apollo Healthcare Cooperative, opened in op has partnered with hospitals, an imaging
2009, has grown to 600 members and offers center and specialists, as well as with indi-
vidual doctors. It also offers a low cost
insurance that covers hospital care.
Portland’s co-op needs to add members so
it can offer these kinds of valuable extra
benefits, Butler says.
Low-cost legal services are available now,
and other optional extras can be added, as
the number of members grows.
“I’d like to have 300 members signed up,
because at that point we can do a whole lot
more,” he said. “We have a lot more buying
power and people will start coming to us.”
a seven-day a week urgent care clinic.
Butler says he gets a lot of questions
Andrew Watkins, Ph.D. senior pastor at about how co-ops work, when people get a
New Directions Christian Fellowship Min- serious illness such as cancer.
istries of Houston, Texas, said his family
“If you do get cancer, we will advocate
finds the coverage works for its needs. for you to get Medicare rates for your treat-
Knowing the cost in advance and not having ment,” he says. “We can help you apply to
to pay deductibles or co-pays means fami- state of the art cancer centers, like the
lies seek care earlier, he said.
Anderson Clinic in Houston. And if you are
“I love it: I’m an advocate for it,” Watkins signed up with a primary care provider, you
told The Skanner in a telephone interview. will have a far more personal care experi-
“It allows people to go see a doctor even if ence.”
they don’t have insurance, and not fear the
Jenny McCormick, daughter of co-op
cost. It allows you to focus on getting founder Don McCormick, co-ordinates
well.”
between the three cities. She is also a breast
Watkins says many members of his cancer survivor. She started out with insur-
church are working but still can’t afford ance through her job, she says, but had to
insurance. He gave the example of a family switch to her husband’s insurance when she
with five children who joined the co-op and was unable to work.
were able to take care of their medical
“We still ended up with big bills. That’s
needs.
how people spend all their life savings and
“Nine out of 10 things can be taken care
of right there in the doctor’s office, and the
kids get to see the same primary care doc-
See CARE on page 14
Just seven months old, PPCPdx is up and
running with 30 health care providers and 80
members.
Social and Economic Justice Event
Meet
Brandon
Evans
February 12th at 6:00 PM
Augustana Lutheran Church
on 15th and Knott, Portland
Brandon is on staff at the International Trade Bureau, part of
Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Chicago Illinois. The International Trade
Bureau works to achieve parity in the American economy by
building working mutually beneficial relationships between
commerce and citizens on the downside of power.
An informal Question and Answer Reception to follow after the
Service. For more info call (503) 810-4354
Page 12 The Portland Skanner February 8, 2012